I have a classic Carton CA-60 refractor coming soon. I don't know much about this little refractor but it seems complete and in great condition. More pics to come in the following weeks. Here's a preview.

Well, the telescope arrived a couple of days ago and it's in amazing condition for its age. Looks like it hasn't been used more than a few times. The only damage I can find are scratches on the finder scope from the set screws. Objectives are in pristine condition with just a little dust as expected. The scope looks complete to me except for the sun and moon filter. Even has end caps for the objective and drawtube and original manual.

Carton model CA-60, 60mm f=800mm with the SYW stamp on the focuser label and back of the manual. Included was a 6x30 finder, H20mm, HM12.5mm, and HM6mm eyepieces, diagonal, erecting prism, and alt/az mount with flexable slow motion controls for both axis. The draw tube is 1.25" and the Vixen 3720 visual back does fit. The case is like new with all the wood blocks and green felt still intact.

The skies are supposed to clear in a few days with temps falling to -28 degrees C so I'm not sure when I will get a chance to star test the telescope but day time views across the lake are sharp and colour free at 133x with the included HM6mm.

I love to clean and fix up these old refractors but this one doesn't require much maintenance.

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Cool scope. I love the mount and I would imagine the optics to be very good. SWY made my Sears #6344 and it is an excellent telescope optically and mechanically. That is an interesting focal length; right in between the more popular 700 mm and 900 mm. You don't see a lot of those. Congrats on your new acquisition

Just a quick update. Although it is -24C here tonight I jumped outside for about 30 minutes for a look at the moon and Jupiter.

The mount works well but needs some new lube, really tight at these low temps. Legs are a little smaller than my Asahi mount and are a little less stable but do the job for a 60mm. I'm not a big fan of the long flexable slow motion cables, if you leave them swinging you can see it in the eyepiece at medium powers. Let them hang gently and it's fine.

The optics are excellent and there is no false colour that I can detect. Images are contrasty and stars are nice pin points like a refractor should be. I use a Vixen 3720 visual back, celestron star diagonal and 1.25" eyepieces including a 19mm Panoptic, 13mm Nagler, and 7mm Nagler. Star test looks text book on both side of focus.

Looking forward to trying it out in the spring/summer when I can relax and enjoy the views without freezing my b**t off.

BTW, did I mention that I really love these old 60m refractors. Amazing Japanese works of art.